Essendon will be out to break their ugly nine-year streak on Friday night, up against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium as both sides unveil debutants.
The Bombers (6-14, 71.3%) are staring down the barrel of their losing their 11th straight match, which would move their run into outright fourth for the worst in their history. Not since 2016 have they had a losing streak worse.
Opposing them are the Saints (8-13, 87.9%), who are hoping to add to their run of three straight wins — their ceiling on the ladder capped at 11th, where they currently sit.
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The Bombers have won three of their last five against St Kilda, however lost their most recent duel in Round 20 last year; a match they lost by 53 points.
Both coaches have swung three changes for the Round 23 opener, however only one of St Kilda’s was forced as Hunter Clark misses through injury. Dodson debuts, while Lance Collard and Tobie Travaglia return.
As for Brad Scott’s side, Zach Merrett stays stuck on 249 AFL games with a break in his hand, while Archie May (injured) and Dylan Shiel (suspension) are also out. Unwin becomes the Bombers’ 15th debutant for season 2025 — usurping their own record this season for the most AFL debutants in one year. Saad El-Hawli returns alongside Kyle Langford — who is playing his first game since Round 11.
The first bounce hit the Marvel Stadium turf at 7:20pm local time in Melbourne, with Saad El-Hawli (Bombers) and Lance Collard (Saints) the starting substitutes. There were no late changes.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 503), and streaming on Kayo, from 6:30pm AEST.
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